Shaft-coupling.



G. SCHMIDT.

SHAFT COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27,1907.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

I-ii l- UNITED T TESQPeI OFFICE- OHARLES'SUHMIDT, or ULEVELAND, OHIO,ASSIGNOR 'ro Tun, rniiaLisss MtiTORdAR COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, ACORPORATION .OF WEST VIRGINIA.

SHAFT-COUPLING.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented it 10, 1909.

, Application filed March 27, 1907. Serial No. 364,765.

. To all whom'tt ma'y concern:

- may be transmitted from the former to the latter and so that saidshafts may be turned short distances relatively to each other, eitherwhen said shafts are idle or when they are in rotation. One practicaluse for a shaft coupling of this kind is in connectionwith thecommutator mechanism used as a part of the ignition system of anexplosion engine; but there is no intention of having claims of thispatent limited to this particular use, because there are uses for whichit is equally well adapted.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of two shafts and a couplingembodying my invention,the bearings for said shafts being inlongitudinal central section. Fig. 2 is an end view of one of saidshafts and the coupling and of one part of the casing which furnishesthe bearing for said shafts,the bearing for the shaft which operates thecoupling device being shown in section. Fig. 3 1s a longitudinal centralsection of the coupling sleeve. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sectionof said sleeve when embracing the shafts which are designed to coupletogether. Fig. 5 is an end view of one shaft.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of said shafts. Fig. 7 is aperspective ,view thereof.

Referring to the parts by numerals, 1 and 2 represent two alined shaftsections, the former being the driving shaft section and the latter thedriven shaft section. These shaft sections are mounted inbearings whichmay be 'of any suitable form. r In the form of the invention whichis.illustrated in Fig. 1. a coupling sleeve 3 embraces the approxi mateends of the two shafts 1 and 2. Within this sleeve and at oppositeendsthereof are the diflerently inclined grooves 4 and 5. These grooves,as shown, are oppositely inclined spiral grooves, and this is believedto be the best construction, because thereby a given longitudinalmovement of the sleeve will produce the greatest relative rotation ofthe two shafts. Each shaft member has within said sleeve the lateralprojecting pins (3 which 'enter adjacent grooves; and preferably blocks7 are loosely placed upon these Jins which blocks slidin l fit -in said7 r b grooves. his sleeve has an external annular groove 10, in which acollar 11 is rota-.

tably fitted,-this collar being provided with oppositely extended pins12. A rock shaft 13 is mounted in suitable bearings and is provided witha forked arm 14, whose ends embrace the pins 12. An operating lever 15is attached to this rock shaft and furnishes means for rocking it,whereby, through inechanisnrdescribed, the sleeve 3 is moved endwise. Itwill, of course, be understood that the shaft sections 1 and 2 areincapable of endwise movement. When, therefore, the

sleeve 3 'is moved-endwise in one direction I or retarded until thedesired relation is attained.

The sleeve 3 not only serves as the means ,1

e turned or for altering the relative angular position of the shafts,but it also serves as a coupling connecting the two sections, andcompels them to rotate in unison when the sleeve is held against endwisemovement. It is clear that the coupling sleeve 3 may be moved endwisewhether the shafts 1 or 2 are made of two separable parts 8 and 9. But

this construction is not essential to the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. In a shaft coupling, thecombination of two alined shafts, a rotatable and endwise movablecoupling sleeve embracing their adjacent ends. and having difi'erentlyinclined internal grooves, pins on said shafts projectinginto saidgrooves respectively, blocks loosely embracing said pins and slidablyfitted to said grooves, and means for moving the couplin sleeve endwise.

' 2. In a sh ft coupling, the combination of a casing made of two searable sections and containing a coupling 0 amber, two almed shaftsmounted in said casing sections respectively and pro'ecting into saidchamber, a rotatably an longitudinally movable coupling sleeve in saidchambenembracin the ends of'said shafts and having two di ferentlyinclined internal grooves, pins secured to the shafts within said casingand projecting into said grooves respectively, a collar rotatablymounted upon the sleeve, there being means on the sleeve for preventingendwise movement of the collar relative to the sleeve, a rock-shaftmounted in the casing, and operative connections between said rock-shaftand collar.

3. In a shaft coupling, the combination of a casing made of twoconnected sections which are separable in a plane'transverse to the axisof the shafts mounted therein,

' said sections being enlarged at their adjacent ends to form a couplinchamber, two

alined shafts mounted in sai casingl'sections respectively andprojecting into said chamber, a rotatably and longitudinally movablecoupling sleeve in said chamber embracin the ends of said shafts andhaving two di ferently inclined internal grooves, pins secured to theshafts within'said casing and projecting into said grooves respectively,a collar rotatably mounted upon the sleeve, there being means on thesleeve for preventing endwise movement of the collar relative to thesleeve, 21 rock-shaft mounted in the casing, a forked lever secured tosaid rockshaft and engaging said collar, and an oporating lever securedto said rock-shaft outside of the casing.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of'two witnesses.

CHARLES SCHMIDT.

